Multidirectional joy stick type lever actuated switches

ABSTRACT

A multidirectional lever actuated self neutralizing switch having a base comprising a tapered pin which extends into a recess provided in one end of the lever, the angular relationship between the tapered surface of the pin and the surface of the recess when the switch is in an off position being predetermined to define the maximum degree to which the lever can be pivoted about the pin to cause the lower surface of an actuator plate affixed to the lever to actuate a self-restoring switch when the lever is so pivoted. The upper surface of the actuator plate is juxtaposed on a leaf spring when the switch is in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;off&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position. Subsequent to the actuation of a switch and the termination of the juxtaposition of the spring vis-a-vis the plate by pivoting the lever; that is, when the lever is released, the pressure exerted on the plate by the spring causes the lever to resume its off position and the upper surface of the actuator plate to again be juxtaposed on the spring.

United States Patent [191 Kaplan MULTIDIRECTIONAL JOY STICK TYPE LEVERACTUATED SWITCHES [75] Inventor: Joseph Kaplan, Jericho, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Machine Components Corporation,

Plainview, Long Island, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 25, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 373,500

[52] [1.5. Cl......l 200/6 A Primary ExaminerJames R. Scott Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Robert F. Hargest [451 May 14, 1974 [5 7] ABSTRACT Amultidirectional lever actuated self neutralizing switch having a basecomprising a tapered pin which extends into a recess provided in one endof the lever, the angular relationship between the tapered surface ofthe pin and the surface of therecess when the switch is in an offposition being predetermined to define the maximum degree to which thelever can be pivoted about the pin to cause the lower surface of an 1actuator plate affixed to the lever to actuate a selfrestoring switchwhen the lever is so pivoted. The upper surface of the actuator plate isjuxtaposed on a leaf spring when the switch is in the off position.Subsequent to the actuation of a switch and the termination of thejuxtaposition of the spring vis-a-vis the plate by pivoting the lever;that is, when the lever is released, the pressure exerted on the plateby the spring causes the lever to resume its off position and the uppersurface of the actuator plate to again be juxtaposed on the spring.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 14 I974 SHEET 1 (1F 2 I minnow14 @914 1181 1.018

SHEET 2 0F 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention. relatesto multidirectional lever actuated switches. A multidirectional leveractuated switch is known which consists of a complex mechanism wherein amoveable electrical contact is caused to engage a fixed electricalcontact by pivoting a ball and socket type lever which is operablyconnected to or engages the moveable contact along a predetermined pathto cause the moveable contact to engage the fixed contact. In oneexample of such a switch, as described in Kight, U.S. Pat. No.2,227,350, pivoting of the lever is facilitated by affixing the lever toa ball which operably engages a socket in a holding block affixed to thehousing of the switch. in order to assure that such a switch functionsproperly great care must be taken during the manufacture of the ball andsocket to assure that there is substantially no play between the two. Insome cases it is necessary to include means for reducing friction suchas a bearing member to facilitate pivoting the lever and reduce the wearof either or both of the ball and socket.

In those cases where one end of the lever is operably connected to asliding member which causes the moveable contact to'engage the fixedcontact it. is necessary to assure that there is a properinterrelationship between the end' of the lever and the sliding memberin order to assure that the switch functions properly. For example, in aswitch of the type described in Schaad et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,235,679,wherein the end of an actuating lever is affixed to a slide member towhich is affixed the moveable contact, one end of the lever comprises atruncated sphere which operably engages the walls of a recess in. theslide member. To prevent rotation of the leverand otherwise assure thatthe switch functions properly the sphere and recess must be manufacturedso as to substantially eliminate any play between the two.

In a switch of the type described in Schaad et al supra, properalignment of the mov'eable contact with the fixed contact isaccomplished by means of a complex mechanism including spring biaseddetent balls operably affixed to the slide member which balls mate witha recess in the'switch housing whenever the contacts are in alignment.To neutralize the switch, the lever is pivoted to break contact betweenthe fixed and moveable contacts, the detent balls being moved to anotherrecess in the housing.

Other known ball and socket-type lever actuated switches are describedin Rayner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,705, Rothweiler et al, U.S. Pat. No.3,666,900, Elliott et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,459 and Dillon et al, U.S.Pat. No. 3,679,846.

Efforts have been made to produce a switch which is simple inconstruction and can be manufactured at a substantially lower cost thanprior art switches, asfor example, the ball and socket-type switchesdescribed above. For example, in a switch of the type described inChristensen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,290,455 the ball and socket type lever hasbeen replaced with a switch wherein the pivoting of an actuating leverdepends upon the interrelationship between one end of the lever whichengages the bottom of a recess into which said end extends. Such astructure requires that the end of the lever and bottom of the recess bemanufactured to close enough tolerances to assure proper operation ofthe switch. in addition, the degree to which the lever must be pivoted,relative to the longitudinal or long axis of the lever when the lever ispositioned in the neutral "which the lever extends. To neutralize aself-centering switch of the type described in Christensen suprarequires a mechanism including a spring biased hemispherical actuatorplate which mates with, and moves relative to in response to pivoting ofa lever, the collar affixed to the switch housing. Another suchselfcentering switch is described in Johnstone et al, U.S. Pat. No.3,483,337 wherein an actuator plate having conical protrusions whichmate with conically shaped depressions is used to neutralize the switch.The selfneutralizing features of the switches described in Christensenand Johnstone et al are such that the curved surfaces of the actuatorplate must be manufactured such that the plate properly mates with thesurface of the collar and depressions, respectively, to assure that theswitch is properly neutralized. In addition to the foregoing problems,prior art switches of the type described in Christensen supra do notreadily lend themselves to being used with push-button type switchessince the only means for retaining the actuator plate in place is ahelical type spring. If one were to depress rather than pivot the lever,the spring would become compressed and the actuator plate wouldnon-selectively actuate all of'the push-button-type switches.

[t is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-directionalself-neutralizing leveractuated switch which is simple in construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide amultidirectional lever actuated switch having a minimum number ofmechanical parts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide amultidirectional lever actuated switch comprising push button typeswitches which cannot be actuated by compressing the lever.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide amultidirectional lever actuated switch in which individual switches maybe precisely selectively actuated by means of the interrelationship ofsubstantially flat surfaces.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide amultidirectional lever actuated switch which is indexed to be selfneutralizing, that is, to return to a neutral or of position from anyofa plurality of positions, by means of the interrelationship ofsubstantially flat surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other objects of the presentinvention can be accomplished by the provision of a multidirectionallever actuated self neutralizing switch having a base comprising atapered pin which extends into a recess provided in one end of thelever. Alternatively,

the switch may comprise a lever the end of which com- 7 surface of anactuator plate affixed to the lever to actuate a self-restoring switchwhen the lever is pivoted. The upper surface of the actuator plate isjuxtaposed on a leaf spring or piece of resilient spring metal when theswitch is in the neutral or off position. Although notnecessary,advantageously the spring and upper surface of the actuatorplate are substantially flat. At least a portion of the plate engagesthe spring and thereby bends the spring as the lever is pivoted aboutthe pin such that when whatever means are used for retaining the leverin a predetermined position is released, the spring returns or springsback to its original cross-sectional configuration and causes the leverto assume its neutral or of position; that is, the pressure of thespring biases the actuator plate until the 7 upper surface of the plateis once again juxtaposed on the spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects will becomeapparent from the detailed discussion which follows and from theaccompanying drawing, in which FIG. I is an isometric view of oneembodiment of the multi-directional lever actuated switch of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of themultidirectional lever actuated switch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3a is a'front elevational view of one embodiment of the tapered pmof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the actuating mechanismof the multidirectional lever actuated switch of the present invention.

FIG. 4a is an exploded view ofa further embodiment of the actuatingmechanism of the multidirectional lever actuated switch 'of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view taken along Line III- -III of FIG. 3depicting one embodiment of the multidirectional lever actuated switchof the present invention in an actuated position.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a further embodiment of themultidirectional lever actuated switch of the present invention FIG. 6ais a plan view of one embodiment of the mul- .tidirectional leveractuated switch of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa cross-shaped actuator plate of one embodimentof the multidirectional lever actuated switch of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS with the center of said openingwhen said switch is in the off position; (c) a tapered pivot pininternal of and connected to said housing, the longitudinal axis ofwhich is aligned with the center of said opening when said switch is inthe off position, said pin having a collar concentric with the wideportion of said pin, said pin extending into said recess, the face ofsaid collar nearest said recess being juxtaposed on said surface whensaid switch is in the off position; (d) a leaf spring internal of andconnected to said housing intermediate of said top and said base havingan upper portion facing said top and a lower portion facing said base;(e) means extending through said opening for pivoting said pin and saidmember relative to each other; and, (f) an actuator plate internal ofand connected to said means intermediate of said spring and said baseand having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surfacejuxtaposed on said lower portion of said spring when said switch is inthe off position, and operably connecting said means to said housing,the angular relationship between the longitudinal axis of said recessand the tapered surface of said pin when the switch is in the offposition being predetermined to define the maximum degree to which saidpin and said member can be pivoted relative to each other to cause saidlower surface of said actuator plate to actuate one of said switcheswhen said means is so pivoted. In one embodiment of the presentinvention the tapered pin is connected to the base and the pivotingmeans is an elongated lever one end of which extends into the housingand comprises the member. Alternatively, the member may be connected tothe base and the pivoting means is an elongated lever one end of whichextends into the housing and comprises the tapered pin.

Looking now at FIGS. 1 to 5 wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts there is depicted a multidirectional lever actuatedswitch 2 comprising sides 4 and 6 each affixed to a top 8 and base 10 byany well known means as, for example. by screws or rivets. Base 10comprises single-pole, double-throw push button-type self-restoringswitches l2, l4, l6 and 18 (not shown) and pivot member 20 whichincludes a tapered pin 22 having a collar 24 concentric with the wideportion 26 of pin 22. The single-pole doublethrow push-button switchesare by way of example only, many features of the present invention beingapplicable to such standard types of switches as doublepoledouble-throw, double-pole single-throw, singlepole single-throw, etc.Switches 12, I4, 16 and 18 comprise suitable electrical lead connectingmeans ]3, I5, 17 and 19 (not shown) which may be, for example, connectedelectrically to drive two reversible motors. Intermediate of top 8 andbase 10 and affixed to sides 4 and 6 by means of retaining rods 28 and30 is a leaf spring 32 having a hole 34 therein the center of which isaligned with the longitudinal or long axis 36 of pin 22 and the centerof hole 38 in member 8. A lever 40 extends through holes 34 and 38 intoswitch 2. One end 42 of lever 40 contains a recess 44, advantageouslycylindrical in shape, the diameter of recess 44 being substantiallyequal to the diameter d of the wide portion 26 of pin 22 and the depthof recess 44 being greater than the height h of pin 22 to allow for thepivoting of the lever about the pin without such pivoting beingrestricted as a result of the top of the pin engaging the base of therecess. The end 42 of lever 40 is substantially flat, and when switch 2is in the off position as depicted in FIG. 1, isjuxtaposed on thesurface 50 of collar 24, which surface is also substantially flat, suchthat pin 22 extends into recess 44. As noted above, and referring toFIG. 4a, alternatively the switch may comprise a lever 40a the end ofwhich comprises a tapered pin 22a which extends into a recess 44a in thebase 10a of the switch.

Intermediate of spring 32 and base is an actuator plate 52 having a hole54-thereinthrough which lever 40 extends, and the plate 52 is concentricwith lever 40. Actuator plate 52is affixed to lever 40 as for example bymeansofretaining washer 53 and comprises an uppersurface 56 and lowersurface 58, the juxtaposing of upper surface 56' on lower surface 60 ofleaf spring 32 providing a means for indexing the switch such that hisself-neutralized from any of a plurality of positions by means of theinterrelationship of substantially flat surfaces. For example, as can beseen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, surface43of1 end 42-of lever 40 ismaintained in contact withsurface 50 of-collar 24, none of switches 12,14', 16 and l'8 beingi actuated when the switch is in the neutralorfoffposition as aresult of the actuator plate 52 being affixed tolever 40,the surface 56 juxtaposed on the surface 60-. In addition, in view ofthe surface 43 of end 42 of lever 40 being juxtaposed on surface 50 ofcollar 24'noneof contacts 12, 14, 16, 18 can be actuated bydepressing-lever 40 since any such depression is vpreventedas a resultof the contact between surfaces 43 and 50. Referring to FIG. 5 it can beseen that by pivoting lever 40 about pin 22 alongany of the axes whichthelever may be pivoted until. the substantially flat surface 47 ofrecess 44 contacts the tapered surface of pin 22, actuator plate 52 maybe caused to actuate any of switches l2, l4, l6, 18. If desired, lever40 can be pivoted about pin 22 until surface 47 contacts the surface ofpin 22, and then rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction,relative to the longitudinal or long axis36 of pin 22 to rapidlyalternatively actuate switches 12, 14', l6, I8, 12, 14, 16, I8, etc. Ascan be seen from FIG. 5, the maximum de-' gree to which lever 40 can bepivoted. relative to the long axis 36 of pin 22 is determinedby theangular relationship between the. tapered surface 21 ofpin 22 and thesurface 47 of recess 44. For example, in FIGS. 3a and 5, the surface ofpin 22 extends at an angle a of 12 relative to the long axis 36 of pin22. Since the recess 44 depicted in FIG. 5 is cylindrical, surface 47 isparallel to the long axis of pin 22 when the switch is in the neutral orof position.- Hence, since lever 40 may be pivoted about pin 22 untilsurface 47 engages the surface of pin 22, lever 40 may be pivoted 12relative to the long axis of pin 22. Therefore, if it is determined thatthe lever 40 must be pivoted 12 relative to the long axis of pin 22 forthe lower surface 58 of actuator plate 52 to actuate any of switches 12,14, 16, I8, then if the recess is cylindrical a pin 22 is providedhaving a surface which extends at an' angle a of 12 relative to the longaxis 36 of pin 22. Of course an angle a of 12" is by way of exampleonly, it being contemplated that the angle a will be determined by thedegree to which the lever must be pivoted to actuate one or moreswitches.

In an alternative embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 6 and 6a, a guidetrack 142 may be provided to limit the directions in which the levermaybe pivoted; that is, to define the axes along which the lever may bepivoted. For example, guide track '142 provides X-Y axes along whichlever 114 may be moved to selectively actuate push button switches I22and 128 as described in greater detail hereinafter. As can beseen fromthe foregoing, a simple switch is provided in which individual switchesmay be precisely selectively actuated by means of the interrelationshipof substantially flat surfaces.

In addition to causing actuator plate 52 to actuate any of switches 12,14, 16 and 18, the pivoting of lever 40 about pin 22 simultaneouslycauses spring 32 to bend away from base 10 as depicted in FIG. 5. Assuch, the present invention provides a simple selfneutralizing switch asa result of the inter-relationship between the actuator plate and leafspring. For example, when lever 40 is released, the force which thespring 32 exerts on actuator plate 52 as a result of being caused toyield as described above causes lever 40 to move to a neutral or off"position. Such self-centering movement is facilitated as a result of thetendency of the spring to recover or spring back upon release of thelever, thereby causing the upper surface 56 to again become juxtaposedon surface 60 of leaf spring 32.

In theembodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 6 actuatorplate comprises a first step 102 and a second step 104 formed by a firstcylinder 106 which comprises the upper surface 108 of the plate 100 anda second cylinder 110 which comprises the lower surface 112 of plate100. The circumference of the first cylinder 106 is less than thecircumference of the second cylinder 110. Such a stepped arrangement isparticularly useful when the switches of the present invention comprisemore than two push button type switches along each of one or more of theaxes along which the lever may be moved. For example, referring to FIGS.6 and 6a it can be seen that by pivoting lever 114 about pin 116 suchthat lever 114 rides in guide track 118 one arm of the cross-shapedmember I20, as depicted in FIG. 7, which is affixed to the lower surfaceof actuator plate 100 engages and actuates switch 122 which isadvantageously nearer said arm when said switch is in the off positionthan is any other switch actuated by said arm, while simultaneously step102 of plate 100 causes spring 124 to bend away from base member 126 asdepicted in the drawing such that actuator plate 100 becomes springbiased. As was the case regarding lever 40 described above, when lever114 is released, the force which the spring 124 exerts on actuator plate100 as a result of being bent causes lever 114 to move to a neutral oroff position as described above in connection with lever 40. However,alternatively lever 114 may be pivoted about pin 116 such that lever 114continues to ride in guide track 118 such that member 120 engages andactuates switches 122 and 128, the resistance to pivoting of lever 114being increased as a result of step 104 of plate 100 simultaneouslycausing spring 124 to become bent further from base member 126 than wasthe case when spring 124 was bent by step 102 as depicted in the drawingthereby causing a greater force to be exerted on actuator plate 100.Such increased resistance informs the operator of the switch that he isadvancing the switch from a condition where only switch 122 is actuatedto a condition where switches I22 and 128 are actuated. In addition,said greater force facilitates the juxtaposition of surface 108 of plate100 on surface 130 of spring 124. Although FIG. 6 depicts actuator plate100 as having two steps 102 and 104 for use in connection with theoperation of switches 122 and 128, respectively, the actuator plate cancomprise more than two steps advantageously where there are more thantwo such switches.

The cross-shaped member 120 is particularly useful in switchescomprising more than two push button type switches along each of one ormore of the axes along which the lever may be pivoted. For example, asnoted above, by pivoting lever 114 along guide track 118 switch 122 orswitches 122 and 128 may be actuated. Alternatively, and by way ofexample, by pivoting lever 114 along guide track 132 switch 134, orswitches 134 and 136 may be actuated.'Similarly, by pivoting lever 114along path 138 or 140, one or more switches (not shown) may be actuatedas were switches 122, 128 and 134, 136. In such cases each arm of thecross-shaped member is aligned adjacent to at least two push buttonswitches such that when the lever is pivoted at least one arm of themember actuates one or more of the adjacent switches.

The multidirectional lever actuated switch of the present invention isparticularly suitable for use in com- ,pact switch packages forcommercial, aerospace and military equipment. Typical applicationsinclude, without limitation, multi-speed, bidirectional motor control,control of X-Y positioning of film viewing equipment and accuratepositioned control of microscope, inspection and machine tool tables.

The embodiment which has been described herein is but one of severalwhich utilize this invention and is set forth here by way ofillustration butnot of limitation. it is apparent that manyotherembodiments which will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scopeof this invention.

Iclaim:

l. A multidirectional switch comprising:

a a housing having a top having an opening therein and a base oppositesaid top, said base comprising at least one switch;

b a member internal of and connected to said housing having a surfacehaving a recess therein the longitudinal axis of which is aligned withthe center of said opening when said switch is in the off position;

c A tapered pivot pin internal of and connected to said housing, thelongitudinal axis of which is aligned with the center of said openingwhen said switch is in the off position, said pin having a collarconcentric with the wide portion of said pin, said pin extending intosaid recess, the face of said collar nearest said recess beingjuxtaposedon said surface when said switch is in the off position;

d a leaf spring internal of and resiliently supported within saidhousing in a floating relationship with respect to said housing, saidspring being positioned intermediate of said top and said base andhaving an upper portion facing said top and a lower portion facing saidbase;

e means extending through said opening for pivoting said pin and saidmember relative to each other; and,

f an actuator plate internal of and connected to said means intermediateof said spring and said base said actuator plate to actuate one of saidswitches when said means is so pivoted.

2. The switch described in claim 1 wherein said means is an elongatedlever one end of which extends into said housing and comprises saidmember, and said pin is connected to said base.

3. The switch described in claim 1 wherein said means is an elongatedlever one end of which extends into said housing and comprises said pin,and said member is connected to said base.

4. The switch described in claim 2 wherein said spring and said uppersurface are substantially flat. 7

5. The switch described in claim 2 wherein there are at least two pushbutton type switches along at least one of the axes along which saidlever may be pivoted.

6. The switch described in claim 5 wherein a crossshaped member isaffixed to said lever and is juxtaposed on the lower surface of saidactuator plate and each arm of said member is aligned adjacent to atleast two push button switches such that when said lever is pivoted atleast one arm of said member actuates one or more of said adjacentswitches.

7. The switch described in claim 6 wherein the first switch actuated byan arm of said member when said lever is pivoted is nearer said arm whensaid switch is in the off position than is any other switch actuated bysaid arm.

8. The switch described in claim 7 wherein said actuator plate comprisesa first cylinder which comprises the upper surface of said plate and asecond cylinder which comprises the lower surface of said plate, thecircumference of said first cylinder being less than the circumferenceof said second cylinder.

9. A multidirectional switch comprising:

a a housing having a top having an opening therein and a base oppositesaid top, said base comprising a plurality of push button-type selfrestoring switches and a tapered pivot pin the longitudinal axis of thepin being aligned with the center of said opening, and the wide portionof said pin extending away from said top, said pin having a collarconcentric with said portion;

b a leaf spring internal of and affixed to said housing intermediate ofsaid top and said base having a hole therein and having an upper portionfacing said top and a lower portion facing said base;

c a lever operably affixed to said housing and having one end extendingthrough said opening and said hole, said one end having a cylindricalrecess therein the diameter of which is substantially equal to thediameter of said wide portion and the depth ofwhich is greater than theheight of said pin a predetermined amount, said one end juxtaposed onthe face of said collar nearest said recess when said switch is in theoff position, and said pin extending into said recess;

d an actuator plate affixed to and concentric with said leverintermediate of said spring and said base and having an upper surfaceand a lower surface, said upper surfacejuxtaposed on said lower portionof said leaf spring when said switch is in the off position; and,

c said lever having a second end extending from said opening external ofsaid housing for pivoting said lever about said pin, the angularrelationship between the tapered surface of said pin and thelongitudinal axis of said recess when the switch is in the off positionbeing predetermined to define the maximum degree to which said lever canbe pivoted about said pin to cause said lower surface of said plate toactuate one of said switches when said member is so pivoted. 10. Theswitch described in claim 9 wherein a crossshaped member is affixed tosaid lever and is juxtaposed on the lower surface of said actuator plateand each arm of said member is aligned adjacent to at least two pushbutton switches such that when said lever is pivoted at least one arm ofsaid member actuates one or more of said adjacent switches.

cumference of said second cylinder.

1. A multidirectional switch comprising: a a housing having a top havingan opening therein and a base opposite said top, said base comprising aTleast one switch; b a member internal of and connected to said housinghaving a surface having a recess therein the longitudinal axis of whichis aligned with the center of said opening when said switch is in theoff position; c A tapered pivot pin internal of and connected to saidhousing, the longitudinal axis of which is aligned with the center ofsaid opening when said switch is in the off position, said pin having acollar concentric with the wide portion of said pin, said pin extendinginto said recess, the face of said collar nearest said recess beingjuxtaposed on said surface when said switch is in the off position; d aleaf spring internal of and resiliently supported within said housing ina floating relationship with respect to said housing, said spring beingpositioned intermediate of said top and said base and having an upperportion facing said top and a lower portion facing said base; e meansextending through said opening for pivoting said pin and said memberrelative to each other; and, f an actuator plate internal of andconnected to said means intermediate of said spring and said base andhaving an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surfacejuxtaposed on said lower portion of said spring when said switch is inthe off position, and operably connecting said means to said housing,the angular relationship between the longitudinal axis of said recessand the tapered surface of said pin when the switch is in the offposition being predetermined to define the maximum degree to which saidpin and said member can be pivoted relative to each other to cause saidlower surface of said actuator plate to actuate one of said switcheswhen said means is so pivoted.
 2. The switch described in claim 1wherein said means is an elongated lever one end of which extends intosaid housing and comprises said member, and said pin is connected tosaid base.
 3. The switch described in claim 1 wherein said means is anelongated lever one end of which extends into said housing and comprisessaid pin, and said member is connected to said base.
 4. The switchdescribed in claim 2 wherein said spring and said upper surface aresubstantially flat.
 5. The switch described in claim 2 wherein there areat least two push button type switches along at least one of the axesalong which said lever may be pivoted.
 6. The switch described in claim5 wherein a cross-shaped member is affixed to said lever and isjuxtaposed on the lower surface of said actuator plate and each arm ofsaid member is aligned adjacent to at least two push button switchessuch that when said lever is pivoted at least one arm of said memberactuates one or more of said adjacent switches.
 7. The switch describedin claim 6 wherein the first switch actuated by an arm of said memberwhen said lever is pivoted is nearer said arm when said switch is in theoff position than is any other switch actuated by said arm.
 8. Theswitch described in claim 7 wherein said actuator plate comprises afirst cylinder which comprises the upper surface of said plate and asecond cylinder which comprises the lower surface of said plate, thecircumference of said first cylinder being less than the circumferenceof said second cylinder.
 9. A multidirectional switch comprising: a ahousing having a top having an opening therein and a base opposite saidtop, said base comprising a plurality of push button-type self restoringswitches and a tapered pivot pin the longitudinal axis of the pin beingaligned with the center of said opening, and the wide portion of saidpin extending away from said top, said pin having a collar concentricwith said portion; b a leaf spring internal of and affixed to saidhousing intermediate of said top and said base having a hole therein andhaving an upper portion facing said top and a lower portion facing saidbase; c a lever operably affixed to said housing and having one endextending through said opening and said hole, saId one end having acylindrical recess therein the diameter of which is substantially equalto the diameter of said wide portion and the depth of which is greaterthan the height of said pin a predetermined amount, said one endjuxtaposed on the face of said collar nearest said recess when saidswitch is in the off position, and said pin extending into said recess;d an actuator plate affixed to and concentric with said leverintermediate of said spring and said base and having an upper surfaceand a lower surface, said upper surface juxtaposed on said lower portionof said leaf spring when said switch is in the off position; and, e saidlever having a second end extending from said opening external of saidhousing for pivoting said lever about said pin, the angular relationshipbetween the tapered surface of said pin and the longitudinal axis ofsaid recess when the switch is in the off position being predeterminedto define the maximum degree to which said lever can be pivoted aboutsaid pin to cause said lower surface of said plate to actuate one ofsaid switches when said member is so pivoted.
 10. The switch describedin claim 9 wherein a cross-shaped member is affixed to said lever and isjuxtaposed on the lower surface of said actuator plate and each arm ofsaid member is aligned adjacent to at least two push button switchessuch that when said lever is pivoted at least one arm of said memberactuates one or more of said adjacent switches.
 11. The switch describedin claim 10 wherein the first switch actuated by an arm of said memberwhen said lever is pivoted is nearer said arm when said switch is in theoff position than is any other switch actuated by said arm.
 12. Theswitch described in claim 11 wherein said actuator plate comprises afirst cylinder which comprises the upper surface of said plate and asecond cylinder which comprises the lower surface of said plate, thecircumference of said first cylinder being less than the circumferenceof said second cylinder.